Orthopedic Pillow Assembly

ABSTRACT

An orthopedic pillow assembly for promoting a neutral spinal alignment while sleeping includes first and second shells, which define interior and internal spaces, respectively. The second shell is attached to and covers an upper face of the first shell. A block, which comprises viscoelastic polyurethane foam, is positioned in the first shell and occupies the interior space. An arcuate cutout extends into an upper surface and between opposing ends of the block to define a pair of ridges, with each ridge extending along a respective opposing side of the block. A filler is positioned in the second shell and occupies the internal space. The filler comprises shredded elastomeric foam and thus is moldable to the block&#39;s upper surface to define a recess. With a head of a user positioned in the recess, a respective ridge supports a neck of the user to promote a neutral spinal alignment while sleeping.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM.

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to orthopedic pillows and more particularly pertains to a new orthopedic pillow for promoting a neutral spinal alignment while sleeping. The present invention discloses an orthopedic pillow comprising viscoelastic polyurethane foam and shredded elastomeric foam formed to define a pair of ridges and a recess, into which a head of a user can be positioned, with a respective ridge supporting the user's neck.

(2) Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.

The prior art relates to orthopedic pillows. Prior art orthopedic pillows generally comprise one or two cylindrical bolsters attached to a traditional pillow and extending along one or both of the traditional pillow's long sides. Prior art orthopedic pillows also may comprise multiple layers of different types of foam. What is lacking in the prior art is an orthopedic pillow comprising first and second shells, which are filled with a block of viscoelastic polyurethane foam and shredded elastomeric foam, respectively. An arcuate cutout extends into the block to define a pair of ridges, which yields a recess in the second shell into which a head of a user can be positioned, with a respective ridge supporting the user's neck.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a first shell and a second shell, which define an interior space and an internal space, respectively. The second shell is attached to and substantially covers an upper face of the first shell. A block, which comprises viscoelastic polyurethane foam, is positioned in the first shell and substantially occupies the interior space. An arcuate cutout, which extends into an upper surface and between opposing ends of the block, defines a pair of ridges, with each ridge extending along a respective opposing side of the block. A filler is positioned in the second shell and substantially occupies the internal space. The filler comprises shredded elastomeric foam and thus is moldable to the upper surface of the block to define a recess. The recess is configured for positioning of a head of a user, with a respective ridge supporting a neck of the user, to promote a neutral spinal alignment while sleeping.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of an orthopedic pillow assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new orthopedic pillow embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5 , the orthopedic pillow assembly 10 generally comprises a first shell 12 and a second shell 14, which define an interior space 16 and an internal space 18, respectively. The second shell 14 is attached to and substantially covers an upper face 20 of the first shell 12. A block 22, which comprises viscoelastic polyurethane foam, is positioned in the first shell 12 and substantially occupies the interior space 16. An arcuate cutout 24, which extends into an upper surface 26 and between opposing ends 28 of the block 22, defines a pair of ridges 30, with each ridge 30 extending along a respective opposing side 32 of the block 22.

A filler 34 is positioned in the second shell 14 and substantially occupies the internal space. The filler 34 comprises shredded elastomeric foam, such as shredded viscoelastic polyurethane foam, and thus is moldable to the upper surface 26 of the block 22 to define a recess 36, as shown in FIG. 3 . The recess 36 is configured for positioning of a head of a user, with a respective ridge 30 supporting a neck of the user, thereby promoting a neutral spinal alignment while sleeping.

A plurality of panels 38 is attached to the second shell 14 and defines a plurality of compartments 40 within the internal space 18. Each compartment 40 extends between a lower facet 42 and an upper facet 44 of the second shell 14 and is substantially occupied by the filler 34. Having the filler 34 positioned in the compartments 40 prevents the filler from bunching up in the internal space 18. The panels 38 may extend between opposed ends 46 of the second shell 14, as shown in FIG. 2 , although the present invention also anticipates the panels 38 extending between opposed sides 48 of the second shell 14, or angularly between the opposed ends 46 and the opposed sides 48 of the second shell 14. The plurality of panels 38 comprises from five to fifteen panels 38. The plurality of panels 38 may comprise from ten to twelve panels 38.

A first fastener 50 is attached to the first shell 12 and a second fastener 52 is attached to the second shell 14. The second fastener 52 is complementary to the first fastener 50 and thus is positioned to selectively engage the first fastener 50 to removably engage the second shell 14 to the first shell 12. The second fastener 52 and the first fastener 50 may comprise a zipper 54, as shown in FIG. 4 , or other fastening means, such as, but not limited to, button closures, hook and loop fasteners, and the like.

In use, the orthopedic pillow assembly 10 is positioned on a bed with the recess 36 facing upwardly. A user then positions their head in the recess 36, with a respective ridge 30 supporting the user's neck to promote a neutral spinal alignment while sleeping.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded.

A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. An orthopedic pillow assembly comprising: a first shell defining an interior space; a block positioned in the first shell and substantially occupying the interior space, the block comprising viscoelastic polyurethane foam; an arcuate cutout extending into an upper surface and between opposing ends of the block defining a pair of ridges, each ridge extending along a respective opposing side of the block; a second shell defining an internal space and being attached to and substantially covering an upper face of the first shell; and a filler positioned in the second shell and substantially occupying the internal space, the filler comprising shredded elastomeric foam, such that the second shell is moldable to the upper surface of the block and defines a recess, wherein the recess is configured for positioning of a head of a user with a respective ridge supporting a neck of the user for promoting a neutral spinal alignment while sleeping.
 2. The orthopedic pillow assembly of claim 1, wherein the filler comprises shredded viscoelastic polyurethane foam.
 3. The orthopedic pillow assembly of claim 1, further including a plurality of panels attached to the second shell defining a plurality of compartments within the internal space, each compartment extending between a lower facet and an upper facet of the second shell and being substantially occupied by the filler.
 4. The orthopedic pillow assembly of claim 3, wherein the panels extend between opposed ends of the second shell.
 5. The orthopedic pillow assembly of claim 4, wherein the plurality of panels comprises from five to fifteen panels.
 6. The orthopedic pillow assembly of claim 5, wherein the plurality of panels comprises from ten to twelve panels.
 7. The orthopedic pillow assembly of claim 1, further including: a first fastener attached to the first shell; and a second fastener attached to the second shell, the second fastener being complementary to the first fastener, such that the second fastener is positioned for selectively engaging the first fastener for removably engaging the second shell to the first shell.
 8. The orthopedic pillow assembly of claim 7, wherein the second fastener and the first fastener comprise a zipper.
 9. An orthopedic pillow assembly comprising: a first shell defining an interior space; a block positioned in the first shell and substantially occupying the interior space, the block comprising viscoelastic polyurethane foam; an arcuate cutout extending into an upper surface and between opposing ends of the block defining a pair of ridges, each ridge extending along a respective opposing side of the block; a second shell defining an internal space and being attached to and substantially covering an upper face of the first shell; a filler positioned in the second shell and substantially occupying the internal space, the filler comprising shredded elastomeric foam, such that the second shell is moldable to the upper surface of the block and defines a recess, wherein the recess is configured for positioning of a head of a user with a respective ridge supporting a neck of the user for promoting a neutral spinal alignment while sleeping, the filler comprising shredded viscoelastic polyurethane foam; a plurality of panels attached to the second shell defining a plurality of compartments within the internal space, each compartment extending between a lower facet and an upper facet of the second shell and being substantially occupied by the filler, the panels extending between opposed ends of the second shell, the plurality of panels comprising from five to fifteen panels, the plurality of panels comprising from ten to twelve panels; a first fastener attached to the first shell; and a second fastener attached to the second shell, the second fastener being complementary to the first fastener, such that the second fastener is positioned for selectively engaging the first fastener for removably engaging the second shell to the first shell, the second fastener and the first fastener comprising a zipper. 